Collapsible hockey goal

ABSTRACT

A collapsible hockey goal structure having net supports and a cross-bar which are foldable into and out of an erect position. The crossbar and net supports are each comprised of two rigid components each of which are hinged to each other and to the adjacent goal posts. When erect the various hinged components are locked into a rigid relationship.

United States Patent Browning et al.

51 Oct. 17,1972

COLLAPSIBLE HOCKEY GOAL inventors: Stanley Albert Charles Browning;

Glen Williams, both of Ontario, Canada Canadian imperial Bank of Commerce, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Filed: March 26, 1970 Appl. No.: 22,827

Assignee:

11.8. C1. ..273/l27 B Int. Cl. ..A63b 63/00, A631) 71/00 Field o1Search.....273/26 A, 26 R, 26 D, 127 R, 273/127 A,127 B, 127 C, 127 D, 29 R, 29 B, 29 BA, 29 BB, 29 BC, 29 BD, 29 BE, 29 BF,

29 BG; 135/4 R, 4 A, 4 B, 4C, 7.1 R, 7.1 A; 272/59 C; 248/150, 166, 165; 52/69, 71, 64; 40/129 R, 125 H References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l-leeremans "273126 4 Frischman ..273/l27 R 2,846,078 8/1958 Shelby ..248/l50 UX 2,449,708 9/1948 Lindsay ..273/1 27 8 2,525,304 10/1950 Lindsay ..273/127 B 3,405,721 10/1968 Crosier et a1 1 35/4 R X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 136,958 4/1950 Australia 135/4 R Primary Examiner-Anton 0. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Arn01d W. Kramer Attorney-Fleit, Gipple & Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A collapsible hockey goal structure having net supports and a cross-bar which are foldable into and out of an erect position. The crossbar and net supports are each comprised of two rigid components each of which are hinged to each other and to the adjacent goal posts. When erect the various hinged components are locked into a rigid relationship.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDnm 1 1 m2 I N VENTOR STANLEY A.C. BROWNING COLLAPSIBLE HOCKEY GOAL This invention relates to hockey goals. The popularity of hockey as a game particularly in Canada is unquestioned and its playing is not confined, at least by young boys, to ice rinks.

This interest has been encouraged by the provision of portable goals which are set up in any convenient area. These goals are a kit which has to be assembled by the purchaser. The kits are awkward to assemble for many people. But there is a problem of storage. The shape makes it awkward and few people are inclined to take the goal apart because the boy will want to use it at uncertain times so that it usually is stored in the garage or basement where it takes up a great deal of space.

It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a hockey goal which will be economical to manufacture and package.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hockey goal which may be easily stored when not in use or being transported.

ln accordance with these various objects and others which will be apparent from the following description there is provided a collapsible hockey goal comprising in combination members providing in an erected position, a pair of spaced apart upright goal posts having upper and lower ends, a cross-bar extending between the upper ends of said upright posts, a lower net portion having an arcuate position and first and second ends, each of said ends being hingedly connected to a lower end of an adjacent one of said upright posts to move from a collapsed position into an erect position substantially normal to said posts, and releaseable locking means to secure said lower net support in said erect position.

The invention will now be described with reference to a specific embodiment which is illustrated, only by way of example, in the drawings and in which:

HO. 1 is a general perspective view of a hockey goal embodying the present invention in an erected position;

FIG. 2 is a general perspective view of a hockey goal embodying the present invention in a collapsed position;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a hockey goal in accordance with the present invention during the first stage of assembly; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a hockey goal in accordance with the present invention at the end of the first stage of assembly.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is shown an erected collapsible hockey goal in accordance with the present invention. As illustrated, when erected, the hockey goal comprises a pair of upright posts ll and 12, a crossbar l6 and a lower net support 13, an upper net support 14 and a net 15. It will, of course, be understood that the net may be supplied separately from the remainder of the frame or goal.

In the embodiment illustrated the lower net support 13 comprises a pair of substantially arcuate-shaped tubes 17 and i8 which are joined at their inner ends by a hinge 20. The outer ends of the individual arcuate members 17 and 18 are hingedly secured by means of a rivet 21 and a bushing 22 to the adjacent lower ends of the respective upright posts 11 and 12. This arrangement permits the lower net support 13 to be rotated about the axis of the rivet and bushing into a substantially vertical position when collapsed. To maintain the lower net support 13 in the erect position a pair of hinges such as 23 and 24 are provided. As shown each of these hinges comprises a pair of straps 2S and 26 which are hingedly connected to their respective adjacent arcuate member and upright post as between 18 and 12 in the manner shown to each other as shown. Corresponding recesses and dents to provide locking when erect are provided at 27 and 28.

The crossbar 16 comprises two portions 30 and 31 which are hingedly connected at the middle by means of a hinge 32. This hinge permits folding of the crossbar in the directions indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3 so that each of parts 30 and 31 will, when the goal is collapsed extend in a substantially parallel relationship as in FIG. 2. In the present embodiment the upright post 11 and part 30 of crossbar 16 are formed integrally from a single piece of tube as are part 31 of crossbar l6 and vertical post 12.

The upper net support 14, the same as the lower net support 13, comprises a pair of arcuate members, again of tubular form, 33 and 34, each of which has an outer end 35 hingedly secured by means of a bracket 36 to the adjacent upper end of their respective corresponding posts and the respective inner ends are rotatably secured by means of brackets such as 37 to the adjacent corresponding half of the crossbar 16. With this arrangement, each of the arcuate portions 33 and 34 may swing about their corresponding section of the crossbar 16 from a collapsed to an erect position sub stantially normal to the upright posts. To secure the upper net support 14 in the erect position, on each of upright posts 11 and 12 a small rigid strap such as 40 is hingedly secured at one end. A keyway 41 is provided adjacent the free end of each strap which is en gageable with a key such as 42 mounted on the adjacent corresponding side of the corresponding adjacent outer end of the upper arcuate net support member 34. A threaded rod 50 extending through corresponding holes in the arcuate members 33 and 34 provides further securement.

The net 15 is of a conventional structure and is secured about the upright posts 11 and 12, the lower net support 13, and the crossbar 16 by lacing a string through the loops of the net and over the bars to effect secure engagement. It is not necessary that the net be secured to the upper net support 14 since this will, by virtue of its position underneath the net, support the net in the erected position.

As previously mentioned, the difficulty with the prior structure is that it has to be assembled by the purchaser. This is inconvenient due to its shape and there is natural reluctance to take the assembled structure apart after use. Shipping goals in an assembled state is, of course, not practical as there is the danger of damage due to shipping and the additional expense due to the larger volume taken up by such a structure. And with goals which have to be assembled on receipt there is to some people a problem of some considerable difficulty.

With the present structure the customer when he receives the hockey goal made in accordance with the present invention receives it in a collapsed state thus ensuring a low shipping volume packaging cost, a reducing possibility of damage and no awkward assembly problem. Upon receipt the goal will have the folded attitude illustrated in FIG. 2.

ln order to erect the structure of FIG. 1 the two corresponding halves, 31 and 30, of the upper crossbar member 16 are folded out from their original collapsed position, FIG. 2 in the directions illustrated by the arrows in H0. 3, to assume the attitude shown in FIG. 4. The two lower net sections 17 and 18 being hinged together are then pushed down simultaneously into a ground-engaging position and the releasable locking mechanism provided by the hinges such as 25 between each of the corresponding arcuate members 17 and 18 and their corresponding upright members 11 and 12 are bent down and engaged so that the lower net support 13 is substantially normal to the upright posts 11 and I2 and substantially rigid. The two parts of the upper net support 14, namely 33 and 34, are then swung upwardly about their respective hinges over the lower net support 13 and their respective keys 42 are engaged with the keyways 41 on the straps or strips 40 so that again they are maintained in a substantially rigid position relative to the upright post. To further secure the inner ends of the arcuate members a threaded rod 50 which engages both of the arcuate members 33 and 34 is made fast by tightening the wing nut 51.

lt will be seen from the description of the method of assembly that it is an equally simple matter to collapse the structure shown for the purposes of storage or travel. This is accomplished by reversing the steps.

It will of course be obvious to those skilled in the art that other modifications of the present structure will be possible: alternative hinges may be employed; the upright posts may of course be made in two section with a suitable method of securing and ensuring rigidity between two corresponding parts; in some instances the upper net support may be dispensed with altogether for the purposes of cost; but it will be understood that such modifications be within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A collapsible hockey goal comprising a pair of inverted L-shaped members having their free horizontal ends hingedly joined for movement from a collapsed position in which the plane of the vertical and horizontal portions of one member lies adjacent and parallel the plane of the other member to an erected position in which the vertical and horizontal portions of both members lie in the same plane so as to form a substantially inverted U-shaped structure; a pair of top similarly shaped substantially arcuate rear members, each rear member having one end rotatably joined to a respective horizontal portion adjacent the hinge and the other end pivotally joined to a respective upper end of the vertical portion of the inverted L-shaped member lying adjacent the horizontal portion; a pair of lower similarly shaped substantially arcuate rear members, each lower rear member having one end pivotally joined adjacent to the respective lower end of one of the vertical portions of an inverted L-shaped member with the other end of one lower rear member hingedly joined to the other end of the respective other lower rear member; a net having substantially its entire e he 'oined to the inverted L- ha b nii the o wer rear members; and re eas lg kr rig means associated with the pivotal connections of said top and bottom rear members for locking said top and bottom rear members in respective parallel planes substantially perpendicular to the plane of said inverted U- shaped structure and for releasing said top and bottom rear members for respective downward and upward folding into substantially the plane of said inverted U- shaped structure whereby the inverted U-shaped structure can then be folded on the hinge of the horizontal portions as well as the hinge connecting the lower rear members for additional compactness.

2. A collapsible frame for a hockey goal comprising a pair of inverted L-shaped members having their free horizontal ends hingedly joined for movement from a collapsed position in which the plane of the vertical and horizontal portions of one member lies adjacent and parallel the plane of the other member to an erected position in which the vertical and horizontal portions of both members lie in the same plane so as to form a substantially inverted U-shaped structure; a pair of top similarly shaped substantially arcuate rear members, each rear member having one end rotatably joined to a respective horizontal portion adjacent the hinge and the other end pivotally joined to a respective inverted L-shaped member adjacent the angle thereof; a pair of lower similarly shaped substantially arcuate rear members, each lower rear member having one end pivotally joined adjacent to the respective lower end of one of the vertical portions of an inverted L-shaped member with the other end of one lower rear member hingedly joined to the other end of the respective other lower rear member; and releasable locking means associated with the pivotal connections of said top and bottom rear members for locking said top and bottom rear members in respective parallel planes substantially pe rpendicular to the plane of said inverted U-shaped structure and for releasing said top and bottom rear members for respective downward and upward folding into substantially the plane of said inverted U-shaped structure whereby the inverted U-shaped structure can then be folded on the hinge of the horizontal portions as well as the hinge connecting the lower rear members for additional compactness.

* t t i i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 93 715 Dated October 17, 1972 STANLEY ALBERT CHARLES BROWNING Inventor(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet [72] should read:

- Inventor: Stanley Albert Charles Browning, Glen Williams, Ontario, Canada Signed and sealed this 15th day of May 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer FORM PO-1050 (10-69) uscommoc 00376-P69 U S GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I959 O366-33l. 

1. A collapsible hockey goal comprising a pair of inverted Lshaped members having their free horizontal ends hingedly joined for movement from a collapsed position in which the plane of the vertical and horizontal portions of one member lies adjacent and parallel the plane of the other member to an erected position in which the vertical and horizontal portions of both members lie in the same plane so as to form a substantially inverted U-shaped structure; a pair of top similarly shaped substantially arcuate rear members, each rear member having one end rotatably joined to a respective horizontal portion adjacent the hinge and the other end pivotally joined to a respective upper end of the vertical portion of the inverted L-shaped member lying adjacent the horizontal portion; a pair of lower similarly shaped substantially arcuate rear members, each lower rear member having one end pivotally joined adjacent to the respective lower end of one of the vertical portions of an inverted L-shaped member with the other end of one lower rear member hingedly joined to the other end of the respective other lower rear member; a net having substantially its entire periphery joined to the inverted Lshaped members and the lower rear members; and releaseable locking means associated with the pivotal connections of said top and bottom rear members for locking said top and bottom rear members in respective parallel planes substantially perpendicular to the plane of said inverted U-shaped structure and for releasing said top and bottom rear members for respective downward and upward folding into substantially the plane of said inverted U-shaped structure whereby the inverted U-shaped structure can then be folded on the hinge of the horizontal portions as well as the hinge connecting the lower rear members for additional compactness.
 2. A collapsible frame for a hockey goal comprising a pair of inverted L-shaped members having their free horizontal ends hingedly joined for movement from a collapsed position in which the plane of the vertical and horizontal poRtions of one member lies adjacent and parallel the plane of the other member to an erected position in which the vertical and horizontal portions of both members lie in the same plane so as to form a substantially inverted U-shaped structure; a pair of top similarly shaped substantially arcuate rear members, each rear member having one end rotatably joined to a respective horizontal portion adjacent the hinge and the other end pivotally joined to a respective inverted L-shaped member adjacent the angle thereof; a pair of lower similarly shaped substantially arcuate rear members, each lower rear member having one end pivotally joined adjacent to the respective lower end of one of the vertical portions of an inverted L-shaped member with the other end of one lower rear member hingedly joined to the other end of the respective other lower rear member; and releasable locking means associated with the pivotal connections of said top and bottom rear members for locking said top and bottom rear members in respective parallel planes substantially perpendicular to the plane of said inverted U-shaped structure and for releasing said top and bottom rear members for respective downward and upward folding into substantially the plane of said inverted U-shaped structure whereby the inverted U-shaped structure can then be folded on the hinge of the horizontal portions as well as the hinge connecting the lower rear members for additional compactness. 